Disappearing table



Jan. 27, 1931. J. FRANK ET AL DISAPPEARING TABLE Filed Sept. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nae.

FIG. 4.

INVENTORS JOHN FRANK .BRUNO J. PICK AT TORNEYS J. FRANK ET AL DISAPPEARING TABLE Jan. 27, 1931.

Filed Sept. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

INVENTORS JOHN F RAN K B RUNO J. PICK. I BY W FIG. 6.

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 21, 193i;

y ti 1,790,468

UNITED STATES- PATENT: OFFICE;

JOHN rmnx, or Los ANGEL-ES, am: ammo I. max, or GLENDALE, camonina' DISAPPEARING TABLE Application filed September 12, 1928. Serial Io. 305,387.

Our invention is a disappearing table particularly adapted for use in a vehicle such as an automobile.

An object of the invention is the provision of a table of such a nature-that it is adapted optionally to be extended-for use in a horizontal plane or'collapsed to assume a position within a recess in the supporting wall to which it is aflixed.

A further object is the provision of a collapsed table of the general class described, which, when collapsed, lies flush withv the supporting wall with the result that it is of a neat, finished appearance .and does not materially alter the normal appearance of the wall. i

' A still further object is the provision of a collapsing or disappearing table as described,

provided with improved and simplified releasable means for supporting the table in operative position.

A. still further object is the provision of a disappearing table of the general class described, which is ofexceedingly simple construction and which is accordingly, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and yet which is eflicient in'operation, durable and rigid when extended for use.

A further object is the provision of a disappearing table of the character described, of such a nature that a large number of the tables may be built up and stocked. each a complete unit capable of convenient installation in any desired location, irrespective of whether or not the structure upon which the table is to be mounted, is under construction or has previously been completed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table of our invention in operative position and mounted within the back of the front seat of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical sectional view of the table of Fig; 1 and a portion of the supporting structure.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the table moved to collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, the plane of section being'taken upon the line 44 of Fig. 2'and the direction of view indic ted by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a front, perspective view, showing the table asa complete unit ready for installation.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the manner of app ying the unit of Figure 5 to a vehicle, the manufacture of which has previously been completed, without the necessity of forming an aperture in the supporting structure.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of the invention adapted for application to a previously completed vehicle.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view showing the manner of attaching the lower ends of the supporting rods of Figs. 6 and 7, to the floor of the vehicle.

In terms of broad inclusion, the device of 75 the present invention comprises a table top adjustably secured between suitable guides and provided with braces which optionally may be positioned to hold the table top in a horizontal plane for use, or which ma be released, permitting the table top tobe collapsed to occupy a position between and pref erably flush with the guides. Hence, the invention finds a particular field of utility in connection with vehicles such as automobiles, in which the table may be so mounted that it may be collapsed into the back of the front seat to lie flush therewith when not in use, or be extended therefrom in a horizontal plane and rigidly supported to permit articles 90 to be supported thereupon.

Specifically describing the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the back 6 of the front seat of an automobile, is provided with a recess 7 within 95 which the table unit indicated in its entirety at 8, ma be mounted. This unit 8 includes a top an bottom 9 and 10 respectively, joined by sides 11, forming a frame or container for the movable portions of the device. The

space 12 defined bythe top, bottom, and sides,

1 isdiminished by a board 13 or its equivalent,

. of parallel rails 16 and 17 secured to the sides 11 of the frame 8, The rails 16 and 17 may be constructedin any convenient manner, but we prefer to form them so that their adjacent sides 19 are elevated from the bases 21 thereof to provide a groove 22 between the rails 16 and. 17 restricted. as at 23 at the top.

The rails are so bent at the top that each of the grooves 22 isprovided with a notch 26 in its front side and at its upper end; and an additional notch 27 is formed in the back side of each of the grooves 22 at a point spaced from the top thereof.

The rails 16 and 17 may be attached to the sides 11 in any convenient manner such as by screws 28 assing through the bases 21 there- 7 of and threaded into the material of which the side 11 posed.

A table top 31 is provided,'this top conformin in shape to the space 12 and being receiva l edge by a pin 32 carried by a bracket 33 rigid with each side edge 34 of the top 31 adjacent the back edge 36 thereof. Each pin 32 is provided with a head 35 slidable within the groove 22 but larger than the restricted portion 23 thereof, with the result that the pins 32, and consequently the back edge 36 of the table top 31, maybe moved vertically in a line parallel to the groove 22. When the pins 32 have been moved to the top of the grooves 22, they may be received within the notches 26 by pulling the table top 31 forward, thus preventing inadvertent lowering or other supporting wall is com of the back edge 36 of the top 31.

The table top 31 may be supported in a horizontal plane by preferably a pair of braces 37, one of which is pivoted by a screw 38 or its equivalent to each of the side edges 34 of the top 31 adjacent the upper end of the brace 37. The lower end of each brace 37 is 1 provided with a pin 39 similar to the pins 32 and provided with a head 41 slidable within the associated groove 22 below the associated pin 32.

The notches 27 are so disposed that when the pins 39 are seated therein with the pins 32 seated in the notches 26, the table top 31 is i in a substantially horizontal plane adjacent the upper ends of the grooves 22 as indicated by Fig. 2.

A spring 42 is associated with each brace 37, being interposed between the brace 37 and the top 31 and adapted to press the brace 37 for movement about the pivot 38 into the plane of the table top 31. As a result of this arrangement, when the table top 31 is moved into a horizontal plane, the springs 42 press e therein. It is supported at its back the lower ends of the braces 37 against the back sides of the grooves 22 so that the pins 39 will engage within the notches 27 for the suitable support of the tabletop 31.

Since the pins 32 are in that edge 36 of the table top 31 which is lowermost when the table 31 is collapsed, and since the pins 39 are disposed in the grooves 22 below the pins 32, it is desirable that the rails 16 and 17, and hence the grooves 22, extend for some distance below the upper edge 43 of the board 13, to permit moving the table 31 to this position. This edge 43 of the board 13, serves to support the table top 31 when collapsed. The braces 37 are provided with offset portions 44 toward their front edges'so that each is provided with a notch 46 in its after edge in register with the associated pin 32 when the table 31 is collapsed. This prevents interference of the braces 37 with the pins 32, which would otherwise result when the table is moved to collapsed position. I

Preferably a pair of sliding bolts 47 are mounted in suitable brackets .48 upon opposite sides of the space 12. These bolts 47 may he slid into engagement with the top 31 when the table 31 is in collapsed position to prevent inadvertent displacement thereof, and

When it is desired to withdraw the table I 31 from the space 12 into operative position, the handle 51 provided thereupon adjacent the top edge 52, may be grasped, and the top edge 52 drawn outwards sufficiently to clear the top 9 of the frame 8, it being understood that the bolts 47 have first been withdrawn. Then the top 31 may be raised in a direction substantially parallel to the supporting wall, the pins 32 and 39 sliding upwards within the grooves 22. When the pins 32 reach the tops of the grooves 22, they may be seated within the notches 26, whereupon the table may be swung about these pins 32 as pivots to bring the table top 31 into a horizontal plane. This action results in lowering the pins 39 and also in swinging the braces 37 about the screws 38 as pivots. Consequently, the springs 42 are brought into play to press the lower ends of the braces 37 and the pins 39 against the back edges of the grooves 22, with the result that when the table top 31 approaches the horizontal plane which it occupies in operative position, the pins 39 snap into the notches 27 in which they seat to support the table top 31 in the horizontal plane.

It should be observed that the robe rail 53 which is conventionally provided upon the back6of the front seat of automobiles, is in no manner interfered with by the table 31, either in extended or collapsed position; and consequently, that it is not necessarv to disturb articles supported thereupon when operating the table. I

Whenit is desired to collapse thetable 31, the edge 52 thereof, which is now the front edge,- should be raised until the braces 37 and the top 31 occupy a common plane. This permits the springs 42 to release their pressure upon the braces, so that the pins 39 are easily'displaced from the notches 27, whereupon the entire table 3.1 may be pushed inwards of the space 12, to displace the pins '32 from the notches 26 and permit lowering the entire'table 31 by sliding the pins 32 and 39 downwards within the grooves 22. When the inner or lower edge 36 of the top 31 reaches the upper edge 43 of the board 13, the top edge 52 may now be pressed into the space 12 to bring the table top 31 flush with the supporting wall; or, in other words, the back 6 of the front seat of the vehicle. The bolts 47 may then be slid into place to prevent inadvertent displacement of the table 31.

The modification shown and described, may be built into the supporting wall during the process of'manufacture; but is also capable of being installed upon the back of thefront seat of a'vehicle, the manufacture of which is already completed, without the necessity of forming an aperture in the supporting structure. With this end in view, we have provided a pair of supporting rails 56, each-provided at'its upper end with any convenient type of book 57 adapted to be engaged upon the top 58 of the back 6 of the front seat of the vehicle as clearly shown upon Fig. 6. A stud 59 Or its equivalent, is provided at the lower end of each of'the rails 56, this stud being adapted to extend through an aperture 61 in the fioor 62 of the vehicle, and to have a nut 63 threaded therebelow to securely lock the rail 56 in position upon the back 6. One

of the units 8 may be rigidly mounted between a pair of the rails, and then the structure thus assembled, mounted upon the back 6.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 instead of constructing the device to be encased within a frame, each of the rails 56' by means of which the table is secured upon the back 6 is provided with a suitable groove 64 within which the pins 32 and 39 of the table top 31. are slidable, the grooves 64 being in all respects, similar to the grooves 22 previously describ Obviously, the operation of this modification is similar to that of the modification of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

We claim:

1. A device of the characterdescribed, comprising a supporting wall having a recess therein and a groove associated with each of two opposite sides of said recess, a table top receivable within said recess, pins extending from the side edges of said top adjacent the back edge thereof and slidable within said groove, a brace associated with each'of said side edges to adjacent one end of the brace, the other end of each of said braces being slidably disposed in the associated grooves, each of said grooves being provided with a notch in one .side thereof for the reception of the sliding end of the associatedbrace to releasably retain said table to in a horizontal plane.

2. A device 0 the character described,

comprising a supporting wall having a recess therein and a groove associated with each of two opposite sides of said recess, a table top receivable within said recess, pins extending from the side edges of said top adjacent the back edge thereof and slidable within said groove, a brace associated with each of said side edges of the table top and pivoted thereto adjacent one end of the brace, the other end of each of said braces being slidably disposed in the associated groove below the associated pin, each of said grooves being provided with a notch'n the back side thereof for the reception of the sliding end of the associated brace to releasably retain said table top in a horizontal plane.

3. A device of the character described,

of the table top 'and pivoted therecomprising a supporting wall having a recess 7 therein and a groove associated with each of two opposite sides of said recess, a table top receivable within said recess, pins extending from the side edges of said top adjacent the back edge thereof and slidable Within said grooves, a brace associated with each of said side edges of the table top and pivoted thereto adjacent one end of the brace, the other end of each of said braces being slidably disposed in the associated groove below the associated pin, each of said grooves being provided with a notch in the back side thereof for the reception of the sliding end of the associated brace, and each of said grooves having a notch at its upper end and in its front side for the reception of the associated pin to releasably retain said table top in a horizontal plane.

4 A device of the character described, comprising a supporting wall having a recess therein and a groove associated with each of two opposite sides of the recess, a table top receivable within said recess, pins rigid with the side edges edge thereof and slidable within said grooves, a brace associated with each of said side edges of the tabletop and pivoted thereto adjacent one ,end of the brace, the other end of each of said braces being slidably disposed in the associated groove, each of said grooves being provided with a notch, and a spring interposed between each of said braces and the table top for pressing the sliding end of the brace into said notch swung into a horizontal plane.

'5. A device of the character described, comprising a supporting wall having a recess of said top adjacent the back when the table top is v therein and a groove associated with each of two posite sides of the recess, a table receivab e Within said recess, pins rigid wit the side edges of said top adjacent the back edge thereof and slidable within said grooves, a brace associated with each of said side edges of the table top and pivoted thereto adjacent one end of the brace, the other end of each of said braces being slidably disposed in the associated groove below the associated pin, each of said grooves being provided with a notch in the back side thereof, and a spring interposed between each of said braces and the table top for pressing the sliding end of the brace into said notch when the table top is swilng into a horizontal plane, said springs being inoperative when the braces and table top are brought into a common plane.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a supporting wall having a recess therein and a groove associated with each of two opposite sides of the recess, a table top receivable Within said recess,'pins rigid with the side edges of said top adjacent the back edge thereof and slidable within said grooves, a brace associated with each of said side edges of the table top and pivoted thereto adjacent one end of the brace, the other end of each of said braces being slidably disposed in the associated groove below the associated pin, each of said braces having a relieved portion in the back side thereof in register with the associated pin when the table top is moved to thereof and slidable Within said brace associated with each of said side edges ception of the sliding collapsed position, each of said grooves being provided with a notch in the back side thereof, a spring interposed between each of said braces and the table top for pressing the sliding end of the brace into said notch when the table top is swung into a horizontal plane adjacent the upper ends of said grooves, said springs being arranged to release their pres sure upon the braces when the braces and table top are brought into a common plane.

7. A device of the character described, comprising spaced rails, means for removably attaching said rails to a supporting wall, said rails defining opposed grooves facing each other, a table top receivable between said grooves, edges of said top adjacent the back edge grooves, a

of said table top and pivoted thereto adjacent one end of the brace, the other end of each of said braces being slidably disposed in the associated groove below the associated pin, each of said grooves being provided with a notch in the back side thereof for the reend of the associated brace, and each of sai grooves having a notch at its upper end and at its front side for the reception of the associated pin to releasably retain said table top in a horizontal plane.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a frame defining a. recess and pins extending from the side having a groove u on each side of the recess, a table top receivable within said recess, pins extending from the side edges of said top adjacent the back edge thereof and slidable within said groove a brace associated with each of said side edges of the table to and pivoted thereto adjacent one end of the race, the other end of each of said braces being slidably disposed in the associated groove below the associated in, each of said grooves being rovided wit a-notch in the back side thereo for the reception of the sliding end of the associated brace to releasably retain said table top in a horizontal plane.

9. A device of the character described, comprising a frame definin arecess and having a groove upon each side of the recess, a table top receivable within said recess, pins rigid with the side edges of said top adjacent the back edge thereof and slidable within said grooves, a brace associated wi h each of saidside edges of the table top an pivoted thereto adjacent one end of the brace, the other'end of each of said braces bein slidably disposed in the associated groove low the associated pin, each of said grooves being provided with a notch in the back side thereof, a spring interposed between each of said braces and the table top for ressing the sliding end of the brace into sai notch when the table top is swung into a horizontal plane adjacent the upper ends of said grooves.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

JOHN FRANK.

BRUNO J. PICK. 

